Surnames of Irish origin have experienced many changes in their spellings and forms. Before being translated into English, Mamara appeared as Mac Conmara, which means "hound of the sea" or "warrior of the sea."

Mamara Early Origins

The surname Mamara was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clįr) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where MacConmara or MacNamara was chief of the territory of Clan Caisin, now the barony of Tullagh. The family was also sometimes styled chiefs of Clan Cuilean; derived from Cuilean, one of their chiefs in the eighth century. This ancient family have traditionally held the high office of hereditary marshals of Thomond.

Mamara Spelling Variations

Mamara Spelling Variations

Within archives, many different spelling variations exist for the surname Mamara. Ancient scribes and church officials recorded names as they were pronounced, often resulting in the name of the single person being recorded under several different spellings. Different spellings that were found include McNamara, McNamar, McNamarra, McNamard, Sheedy and many more.

Mamara Early History

Mamara Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mamara research. Another 271 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1402, 1426, 1402, 1797, 1768 and 1826 are included under the topic Early Mamara History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mamara Early Notables (pre 1700)

Mamara Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mamara Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

North America accepted thousands of Irish immigrants during the 19th century as their homeland suffered under foreign imperialistic rule. Although settlers from the early portion of the century came to North America by choice in search of land, by far the largest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Many of these Irish families left the country destitute and in some cases suffering from disease. However, those who survived the long ocean voyage were especially vital to the development of industry in the United States and what would become known as Canada. Research of immigration and passenger lists has shown many early immigrants bearing the name Mamara: Augustine McNamara who arrived in St. John's Newfoundland in 1794; Bridget, Elizabeth, James, John, Martin, Mathew, Michael, Patrick, Timothy and William McNamara, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..

Crozier, William Armstrong Edition. Crozier's General Armory A Registry of American Families Entitled to Coat Armor. New York: Fox, Duffield, 1904. Print.

Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).

Skordas, Guest. Ed. The Early Settlers of Maryland an Index to Names or Immigrants Complied from Records of Land Patents 1633-1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992. Print.

The Mamara Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Mamara Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.